A following point in the diocese's explanation: "While there is an atemporal side to God's activity, at face value 'This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you' conveys a sense of Mary at that moment still awaiting salvation along with everyone else (as opposed to being already cleansed by a 'prevenient grace,' as the Prayer over…
A following point in the diocese's explanation: "While there is an atemporal side to God's activity, at face value 'This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you' conveys a sense of Mary at that moment still awaiting salvation along with everyone else (as opposed to being already cleansed by a 'prevenient grace,' as the Prayer over the Offerings for Immaculate Conception on December 8 says). And since the song was not written by/for Catholics, that’s surely the intent. But we have to affirm that Mary was not still awaiting a future salvation when Jesus was born—in fact, her purity was necessary for the Incarnation."
I was born and raised Protestant, which is how I came to know of the song and its writer, and the assumed meaning behind the line is that Mary needs to be saved from her sins. I can see how the explanation you were given can work to make the line fit into a Catholic context, but that almost certainly not what was on a Texas Baptist's mind when he wrote it!
Bingo. We can rationalize ways that the lyrics don't deny the Immaculate Conception, but we're just performing mental gymnastics. Occam's Razor applies here.
A following point in the diocese's explanation: "While there is an atemporal side to God's activity, at face value 'This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you' conveys a sense of Mary at that moment still awaiting salvation along with everyone else (as opposed to being already cleansed by a 'prevenient grace,' as the Prayer over the Offerings for Immaculate Conception on December 8 says). And since the song was not written by/for Catholics, that’s surely the intent. But we have to affirm that Mary was not still awaiting a future salvation when Jesus was born—in fact, her purity was necessary for the Incarnation."
I was born and raised Protestant, which is how I came to know of the song and its writer, and the assumed meaning behind the line is that Mary needs to be saved from her sins. I can see how the explanation you were given can work to make the line fit into a Catholic context, but that almost certainly not what was on a Texas Baptist's mind when he wrote it!
Bingo. We can rationalize ways that the lyrics don't deny the Immaculate Conception, but we're just performing mental gymnastics. Occam's Razor applies here.